Arsenal’s bid progress in the Champions League and boost their Premier League title hopes have been hit by something of an injury crisis as Mikel Arteta has been robbed of the services of a number of key player
The Gunners have won just one of their last five games in all competitions and that came with a 3-0 victory in a Carabao Cup tie at Championship club Preston North End. During that time the Gunners have taken two points from Premier League clashes with Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea and fell to a narrow defeat in a Champions League game at Serie A giants Inter.
With the final international break of the calendar year now underway, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will be hoping for some positive news on the injury front before his side return to action with a home game against Nottingham Forest later this month. But what is the latest news on Arsenal’s crop of injured players?
Riccardo Calafiori
The summer signing has impressed during the early stages of his time at the Emirates Stadium - but the impact he has been has been limited in recent weeks after he suffered a knee injury. Calafiori has not appeared since he started a Champions League win against Shakhtar last month and Arteta suggested at the time his recovery could take ‘a few weeks’. That could mean the talented defender returning to action after the international break. Possible return date: Late November.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Another defender that has seen his appearances limited by a knee injury, Tomiyasu has made just one appearance in any competition this season and that came as a late substitute in the 3-1 home win against Southampton in October. Speaking earlier this month, Arteta stated he was not expecting to see the Japan international back in contention until after the international break. Possible return date: Late November.
Kieran Tierney
The former Celtic defender suffered a serious hamstring injury during Scotland’s Euro 2024 Finals campaign and is yet to feature in any competition for Arsenal this season. However, there could be some positive news on the way as Tierney closes in on a return to contention.
Arteta assessed the situation last month as he said: “I think he's quite close. He's looking really good. I think he's over the period where he was still struggling, so he looks really sharp out there. He hasn't trained with the team yet, but hopefully, he can do that in the next week or two.” Possible return date: Late November.
Former West Ham United midfielder Rice has withdrawn from international duty with England after picking up what is believed to be an ankle injury. Rice has continued to feature for Arsenal in recent weeks as Arteta has managed the midfielder’s involvement and he is currently being assessed with no clear indication over whether he could be involved when Arsenal return to action with a home game against Nottingham Forest on the other side of the international break.
The same can be said of Saka after he picked up a muscle injury in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea and was also forced to withdraw from the England squad. Speaking of the duo, Arteta said: “It doesn't look good because two players of that importance tell you that they cannot continue in the game, so it obviously isn't good news. I don't expect them to be fit (for England) because if they were, they wouldn't have come off.” Expected return date: Unknown
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